Severe thunderstorms swept through southeastern Pennsylvania this past weekend, bringing rare 70-mph wind gusts and leaving residents and meteorologists stunned. The National Weather Service has issued 2,070 severe thunderstorm warnings in the region over the past 10 years, but Chief Meteorologist Christine Ferreira said fewer than 10% of those warnings were for storms capable of producing such strong winds. “That shows how rare this is,” Ferreira said. “In 10 years, nine percent of the warnings were for storms that could produce winds like this.” Residents describe frightening conditionsFor Manheim Township resident Amy Souder, the storm was a frightening experience. “We felt like we were in the Wizard of Oz or something, and our house was going to be lifted and moved,” Souder said. “It was very unexpected.” Souder said she feared for her family’s safety as the storm intensified. “I was starting to have a panic attack,” Souder said. “We have several huge trees on our property.” Experts urge caution during severe weatherMeteorologists say warmer temperatures may be one factor contributing to stronger thunderstorms, but they caution that the science behind these events is complex. “The link between climate change and trends in thunderstorms and flooding is tenuous at best,” said Penn State meteorology professor Jon Nese. Nese also noted that tornadoes remain relatively uncommon and can leave very narrow paths of destruction, meaning some may go unnoticed. “You can get tornadoes that occur in places that you may not know if they happened,” Nese said. Regardless of whether a warning is for a tornado or a severe thunderstorm, experts stress the importance of taking all warnings seriously. “Severe thunderstorms can produce winds as strong as tornadoes,” Ferreira said. “You’ve got to take them seriously.”
MANHEIM TOWNSHIP, Pa. —
Severe thunderstorms swept through southeastern Pennsylvania this past weekend, bringing rare 70-mph wind gusts and leaving residents and meteorologists stunned.
The National Weather Service has issued 2,070 severe thunderstorm warnings in the region over the past 10 years, but Chief Meteorologist Christine Ferreira said fewer than 10% of those warnings were for storms capable of producing such strong winds.
“That shows how rare this is,” Ferreira said. “In 10 years, nine percent of the warnings were for storms that could produce winds like this.”
Residents describe frightening conditions
For Manheim Township resident Amy Souder, the storm was a frightening experience.
“We felt like we were in the Wizard of Oz or something, and our house was going to be lifted and moved,” Souder said. “It was very unexpected.”
Souder said she feared for her family’s safety as the storm intensified.
“I was starting to have a panic attack,” Souder said. “We have several huge trees on our property.”
Experts urge caution during severe weather
Meteorologists say warmer temperatures may be one factor contributing to stronger thunderstorms, but they caution that the science behind these events is complex.
“The link between climate change and trends in thunderstorms and flooding is tenuous at best,” said Penn State meteorology professor Jon Nese.
Nese also noted that tornadoes remain relatively uncommon and can leave very narrow paths of destruction, meaning some may go unnoticed.
“You can get tornadoes that occur in places that you may not know if they happened,” Nese said.
Regardless of whether a warning is for a tornado or a severe thunderstorm, experts stress the importance of taking all warnings seriously.
“Severe thunderstorms can produce winds as strong as tornadoes,” Ferreira said. “You’ve got to take them seriously.”